Polish Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz sacked his finance minister today following allegations that she failed to reveal her ties with communist-era secret police.
Ms Zyta Gilowska's dismissal is a severe blow to the ruling conservatives who won last year's elections with promises of moral renewal and severing of any remaining links with the communist past.
Earlier today, Ms Gilowska had said she would leave it to Mr Marcinkiewicz to decide her fate after a court was asked to check allegations that she failed to reveal her ties with communist secret police, charges which she flatly denied.
"I have no reasons not to believe minister Gilowska, but the rule is that in such a case there must be a dismissal," Mr Marcinkiewicz told a news conference.
Ms Gilowska said she was the victim of "falsehood, blackmail" and fabricated documents.
Unlike some of its neighbours, Poland did not open secret police archives to the public and has been plagued by leaks and allegations of collaboration concerning several prominent figures ever since the fall of communism 17 years ago.
Mr Marcinkiewicz said he would propose little-known aide Pawel Wojciechowski to succeed Ms Gilowska, who served as finance minister and deputy prime minister for nearly six months and was seen by markets as a guardian of budget discipline.